Boom or Bust: 6 Tips for Keeping New Year’s Resolutions

Some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions involve getting healthier and budgeting smarter. That’s no surprise, given all of the temptation to gorge and spend during the Holiday season. The question is: Do we actually honor our pledges? Whether it’s resolving to lose weight, spend less, eat healthier, or get fit, most Americans (92%) don’t. Clearly, making a resolution and sticking with it is a tall order. The good news: There’s plenty you can do to greatly improve your chances for success.

1. Start small.

One common reason people break their resolutions is because they ask too much of themselves too soon. Working out every day or denying yourself that daily gourmet caffeine boost might be sustainable for a month, but come February you’ll run out of gas. It’s better to start with reasonable expectations, then demand more of yourself as time goes on and you’ve acclimated yourself to your new lifestyle.

2. Plot your path (and be specific!).

Instead of just saying that you plan to “lose weight” or “cut back on expenses,” create a game plan that lays out the detailed steps you will take to succeed. For example, if you want to lose weight, write down the problem foods you will cut from your diet and the healthy foods you will replace them with. If you want to exercise more, write down the exact days of the week and times you intend to work out.

3. Go public.

I have a friend who always says, “I can’t tell anyone my resolution. If I do it’ll be so embarrassing once I break it!” That, however, is precisely the reason to get the word out. Telling family and friends will not only encourage you to stay on track, but also give you a support system to help you achieve your goals. You could even ask them to occasionally check in on you to reinforce their support.

Instead of just saying that you plan to ‘lose weight’ or ‘work out more,’ create a game plan.

4. Don’t expect perfection.

People tend to give up if they skip their first workout or splurge on their first week of cost-cutting. Instead of throwing in the towel after one lapse, acknowledge that there will be bumps in the road and put it behind you. Long-term success comes not from being perfect all of the time, but from consistently getting back on track whenever you veer off course.

5. Reward success.

Creating incentives for success can help keep you focused. If you’ve set an especially tough goal, like to save $100 a week to pay off credit card debt, reward yourself after a month. For example, you could toast your first round of success with a friend, buy yourself something pretty to wear (on sale of course), or visit one of your favorite places. Need a more formal process to keep you going? Check out some of the many websites and apps that can do it for you. One of the coolest is Gym-pact, which helps you keep your fitness promises by allowing you to earn money for working out or lose money for skipping the gym.

6. You’ve got this.

Remember: Your goal is attainable. One way to remind yourself of this: Keep a list in your mind of people you know and admire who have successfully realized the same or similar goal. It might be a friend, colleague, or a celebrity. Tell yourself: “If they can do it, so can I.”